Tuesday August 25, 2020
MOGADISHU (HOL) - One in five children under five in Somalia show signs of malnutrition, a new study has revealed warning good nutrition is still out of reach for millions of Somali children in the same age bracket.
The report released Tuesday jointly by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF adds that one in ten children is malnourished.
“These deadly conditions curtail children’s physical and brain development,” the Ministry of Health and UNICEF said in a joint statement.
Health Minister Fawziya Abikar hailed the completion of the Micronutrient Survey.
“It shows our unwavering commitment to the women and children of Somalia. But while we celebrate the good progress, let us remember that the fight against malnutrition in Somalia is not yet over,” Dr. Abikar said.
The survey also highlights improvements in the nutrition status of women and children during the past decade. Nine in ten infants are breastfed and the prevalence of both stunting and wasting has decreased.
“The micronutrient survey has provided us with invaluable data on the nutritional status of Somali women and children,” said UNICEF Somalia Representative Werner Schultink. “The results of this study will help chart the way forward so that we can invest in long-term and effective strategies to ensure children can reach their full potential.”
The survey calls for interventions to improve women’s nutrition before and during pregnancy, actions to support breastfeeding from the first hour of life, interventions to improve infant and young child feeding practices to increase dietary diversity and improve vitamin and minerals intake, and programmes toprovide nutrition supplements, information and food. The last such report was released in 2009.